The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-01-14
ROOTS FOR STOCK.

ROOTS FOR STOCK.
me Proper way Of Frsservi.s The. ~
Tee In winter and Spring.
To large extent. ensilage is taking
the place of roots on dairy farms. 1t is be-
lieved by many to be a cheaper food and
to make richer milk than roots. This,
however. is questioned by some excel
lent feeders. The difference in cost
between an equal value of feed in en-
silage and roots is not much. and .
modification of circumstances may
make one or the other the cheaper
food. As green food for mich cows
either may be 3 substitute for tho
other. but their continued use upon the
health of stock and upon the quality
of milk can hardly be considered
identical. Roots are food in its natural
state, but ensilage can hardly
be so considered. 1t is
of necessity. altered by fermenta-
ton. Its carbohydrates are partially
burned and altered by the conversioR
of starch and sugar into acid, and its
albuminoids are more or less broken
up by furnishing food for bacteria,
and by decomposition from
oxidation. and its mineral con-
stituents must evidently be altered ma
terially by a change in the juices in
which they are dissolved from neu-
trail to strongly acid condition. But
ensilage is succulent and easy Of digest
ion. and by judicious discrimination
in the selection of material for the silo.
it may be made to produce more and
richer milk than roots. but both are
more profitably fed in connection with
more heterogeneous food than when used
alone. For breeding stock and for fur
nishing milk in the most wholesome
condition for the use of invalids and
infants. roots. by supplying food in >
perfectly natural and unaltered state.
are to he preferred to any fermented
food. They are also especially va!ua-
bic as an appetizer and health-in.
spring food in the season of dry fodder,
and should not be dropped out of the
winter diet for dairy cows even where
ensiIage is used. With little care and
labor they are easily preserved SO as to
be convenient for use at any time in the
winter.
The best arrangement for storing
roots for stock in winter is large cell
lar adjacent to stable in the basement
of cow-barn or stable for otl;er stock.
1t is important that root-cellar should
not be wanting in size. for if it is. the
vegetables will be very sure to warm
up and decay. All kinds of green
roots. green fruit and green vegetation
of every sort undergo slow but steady
change if exposed to the air at any
temperature much above freezing.
The corroding tendency of the free
oxygen in the air. by its strong affinity
for carbon, causes it to combine with
the carbon in the carbohydrates not
only. but also with the carbon in the
proteine or desh-forming compounds
of green vegetation. converting the
carbon into carboEic acid gas. The
production of this gas is always accom-
panied with the development of heat
according To the amount Of gas formed.
The heat generated in pile of fresh
roots is considerable. 1t is so much
that the space in which they are stored.
iablv warmer. which serves not only to
hasten the process of oxydation. but
hastens decay as well. A root-cellar,
therefore. should have ample space.
so that the heat generated shall not
be confined to the roots, but have room
by current of air TO be distributed
through the whole Enclosure, and by
means of ventilation carried out anc
colder air take its place. The closer
the temperature of the cellar approache.
to freezing. the slower will be both
oxidation and decay. Unless it is low.
the shrinkage of roots in an airy room
from evaporation and oxidation to
gether. is considerable. 1t will easily
run from twenty-five to thirty-five pei
cent. in the course of winter. Sc
much Of this shrinkage is due to evap
Grafton that the roots are continually
growing richer in proportion to bulk
and weight. But good circulation OF
air is essential to preservation unles.
the roots are kept cold by contact with
damp earth. as when buried. A store
room for roots should have ample cen.
nection with the outside air in early
winter. but susceptible of being grad.
ually closed up as freezing weather
cones on. and if need be in extreme
weather. to have an open connection
with ap adjacent stable that the heat
radiating from the stock may prevent
freezing. With such an arrangement,
roots can be fed with best advantage,
as they are safe for preservation OF foI
use at any time the feeder may prefer.
National Lire-.Stock journal.